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Big Truck Extrication - Part 3: The Extrication

In the last two articles we have looked at how trucks are constructed, the types of trailers they may be pulling, the tremendous weights that may be involved, the hazards that come from dealing with large trucks, assessing and approaching these types of crashes, and how to look at some basic stabilization methods. Now we are going to look at some basic extrication techniques for large trucks. You will find that a lot of your basic vehicle extrication skills and knowledge will also apply to these types of accidents.

When preparing to start your extrication first shut off the engine and disconnect the battery system. Remove the negative cable first to prevent an accidental spark, and wrap the end with some tape to prevent any polarization. The first big challenge when extricating on large trucks is the fact that you may have to be working at elevations of up to 10 feet. This is going to be different than what you may be used to doing on standard vehicles. There are several options for gaining the height you need. You can work straight off of ladders which we all carry on our rigs. Caution must be taken to make sure that you secure the ladders while standing on them to extricate. You may be working with heavy hydraulics or reciprocating saws that can recoil if they get caught up in some tough metal. Another option is to build several block cribbing platforms and place a ladder between them. You can then place a backboard on the ladder and you have now essentially created a scaffold system. You may be able to work off of a rollback wrecker or flatbed, if you can get it close enough to the truck. No matter what you end up using, you will have to work from heights you may not be use to, and safety should be your prime concern.

If the cab of the truck is not crushed down, the windows will be your best choice of access. Of course, you should always try the doors first, as this may be all it takes to gain entry. The old cliché “try before you pry” still holds true. If the doors are not an option, then utilize the front widow. The windows are large and usually separated by a center post that can also be easily removed. If the glass is gasket mounted, removing the front window will be fast an easy. If you cut the center post it will give you a large access for gaining entry and removing your victim. Anytime you can use the windows, this gives you an excellent opening that comes ready made.

Doors

The doors on a truck will either be your standard type hinge or a piano type hinge. Standard hinges can be dealt with in your typical door removal technique, while the piano hinge may be better removed by cutting it with a reciprocating saw. The latch can be removed using the same techniques as with standard vehicles. However, the handle and the latch may not always line up, so you may have to work your way down the door frame with your spreaders to reach the latch mechanism. Some of the truck cabs will have small or can have quite large sleeper compartments. These have no outside doors for gaining entry, so cutting a “third door” may have to be done. Cutting at the top of the “B” post straight across toward the rear of the truck and then down will give you a good opening. This can be rolled down or you can continue your cut across the bottom back toward the front and completely remove the side section. This can be done using a reciprocating saw or an air chisel. Hydraulic cutters can be used, but they may take longer to perform the cuts than using the saw or the air chisel. When cutting the sleeper compartment, keep in mind there are also plastics and insulation lining the inside of the walls.

Roof Removal

Removing the cab roof can be done by cutting the “A” post and putting the relief cuts toward the rear of the cab roof. Then crimp the roof using a pole and fold back as you would on a standard vehicle. You can cut all the post and do a complete roof removal and if the truck is on its side, you can flap the roof downward as well. Some trucks have the heating and air conditioning units mounted on the roof, or the unit may be mounted on the ceiling inside the cab. Be careful not to cut the heater lines as they could release hot water on your patient or your rescuers. Always check before making any cuts into the vehicle.

Dash Push

You can push or lift the dash as needed utilizing your ram or spreaders. While placing your ram at the bottom of the “B” post and the moving end at the dash area of the “A” post you can effectively push the dash away from the driver’s compartment. You can also make a “V” cut into the base of the “B” post near the floorboard and place your hydraulic spreaders into the “V”. This will push the dash up and away from the driver as well. The spokes of the steering ring can be cut if necessary, and some of your new cutters will even cut the steering column. (Check with the manufacturer before attempting this technique) Seats can be pushed with the ram or cut with a reciprocating saw or hydraulic cutters.

Lifting

As you can see, a lot of the techniques are the same as with standard vehicles. Our big problem is we can be working with tremendous loads and weights. Good stabilization is critical when working large truck extrications. You may also have situations where large trucks have come to rest on smaller vehicles. These trucks will have to be lifted in order to extricate your victims from the smaller vehicle. Several types of air bags are available for this type of lifting. If using the high pressure pillow bags, it may require a lot of cribbing to get the height you need. If using the RT high pressure bags, they can be locked in place and stacked more than two high. Low pressure bags may also be an option. Your large towing and recovery services also have the capability to lift with their boom wreckers and some also carry large lift bags. Do not hesitate to utilize these resources.

I think one of the most important things to remember is that you have to think outside the box. You are taught a wide variety of techniques for extrication and you must decide how they will best work for you in a given situation. I had the Apex Fire Chief tell me awhile back that they responded to a vehicle verses truck collision where the truck came to rest down an embankment on top of the smaller vehicle. When they attempted to lift the delivery truck, they realized the tow hooks were caught in the smaller vehicle. They used a near by track backhoe with a set of heavy lift chains, lifted the truck and cut away the hooks with a reciprocating saw. The Chief complimented the driver of the track hoe on an excellent job. Most of these operators could take the hat off your head with their equipment and never leave a scratch. I commend the department for thinking outside the box and getting the job done.

Big truck extrications usually do not happen as often as our smaller vehicle crashes do. We also have better access to smaller vehicles for training, so our training on big trucks is most of the time less substantial than our regular vehicle training. If possible, get in a large truck extrication class or try to schedule one for your department. Contact your local towing and recovery service and get familiar with their capabilities. There is no substitute for good training. Always apply good stabilization techniques, and be careful of shifting loads and possible hazards that accompany large trucks. Do not be afraid to think outside the box. “We are only as good as we let ourselves be.” Until next time, “stay safe, train to your best, and remember knowledge can be a wonderful thing.”

Read the other parts of this column:
- Big Truck Extrication – Part 1: Anatamy 101
- Big Truck Extrication – Part 2: Assessment and Stabilization

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